Football's lawmakers should focus on combating cheating, which is becoming a malevolent and "wicked" aspect of the modern game, argues Daily Mail columnist Ian Ladyman. He suggests that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) should implement stronger punishments for players who feign injury or exaggerate contact to deceive officials.
Ladyman points to incidents involving Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during a recent Premier League match as examples of this "chicanery." Both players were seen going down holding their face after minimal or no contact, an act Ladyman describes as more than just embarrassing – it is "low" and "pre-meditated."
While referees can issue yellow cards for simulation, Ladyman contends that this is insufficient. He proposes that IFAB should consider introducing the option of a red card for such offenses on the field. "Would they do it if they knew the match referee at least had the option of showing them the red card instead? Very probably not," he writes.
Beyond immediate on-field action, Ladyman calls for enhanced retrospective punishment. He notes that while a law exists for "successful deception of a match official," it is rarely enforced and has been overshadowed by VAR. For incidents like those witnessed, there is little recourse after the game, which he believes removes a crucial deterrent.
Ladyman also touches upon the issue of players being discouraged from drawing fouls, citing an incident where a clear penalty claim for Aleksandar Isak was not awarded. He argues that players should not be penalized for their honesty and that a foul remains a foul regardless of the player's reaction.
Ultimately, Ladyman advocates for a system where cheating of this nature is not seen as a "risk worth taking," emphasizing the need for both the threat of red cards for dishonesty and, if that fails, punishments handed down by review panels. This, he suggests, is the kind of "meddling" that would genuinely benefit the sport.